Still using T8 lights for new installs?

[CarlosJr]

After perusing the Best Light Fixture sticky post, I started looking around for new 4 foot hardwired T8 fixtures. So far the results have been underwhelming:

• The Maxlite fixture in the sticky post takes single-ended bulbs. I see posts here suggesting that double-ended fixtures are better (and less likely to start a fire if some dummy plugs in a fluorescent tube).
• I haven't had luck finding double ended T8 wraparound fixtures, which I would like to install in the utility/workout room off my garage.
• 1000bulbs has one open double ended PLT T8 hardwired fixture ( https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/219789/PLT-20257.html ). $50 shipping on a $27 item is not great. Still, this might be my best option?
• My local Home Depot and Lowes have some 4-foot T8 fluorescent fixtures on display in-store. I considered buying these and bypassing the ballast. But it turns out that you can't actually buy them, either in-store or online. Possibly this is because California Title 24 discourages/bans new installations of these fixtures.

I see that a lot of people are still reporting problems with the integrated LED fixtures going bad after a few years, which is why I wanted to stick with easily-replaceable T8 bulbs. I will be hardwiring these fixtures with conduit. I do not want to have to re-bend more conduit and/or reinstall an entire fixture (possibly with a different model) if it dies in a few years. I would prefer to install something more future-proof.

What is everyone doing on new installations these days?

 

[sparky 1971]

The fixtures that come pre-wired as single ended can be rewired for double ended. A 4' two lamp fixture will have two sockets already wired and two sockets to hold the other end of the lamp but there is no difference in design between them. Personally, when I convert a florescent I set 'em up double ended, but I leave the new fixtures single ended and use hybrid lamps for both.

 

[CarlosJr]

The fixtures that come pre-wired as single ended can be rewired for double ended. A 4' two lamp fixture will have two sockets already wired and two sockets to hold the other end of the lamp but there is no difference in design between them. Personally, when I convert a florescent I set 'em up double ended, but I leave the new fixtures single ended and use hybrid lamps for both.

You're using the Maxlites? Or something else?

 

[sparky 1971]

You're using the Maxlites? Or something else?

I've never used the Maxlites, but have used a few different brands and they are all the same: basically a florescent strip light without the ballast, some sockets with wires, and some without.

 

[CarlosJr]

I've never used the Maxlites, but have used a few different brands and they are all the same: basically a florescent strip light without the ballast, some sockets with wires, and some without.

Which brands/models would you recommend? Do you know of anything that is available in a wraparound style?

 

[sparky 1971]

Which brands/models would you recommend? Do you know of anything that is available in a wraparound style?

I've never seen a wrap around style and doubt there is one. I've converted many florescent wraps to led and when the lens goes on, the lamps look a couple of lightsabers inside. As far as a brand to get, I have no idea, I just call the supplier I use, tell them what I need, and they send whatever they have in stock. I couldn't even tell you one brand of fixture I've used, but the boxes they come in are usually different than the last time. The tubes are mcled though.

mcledlighting.com

 

[mikedodge]

We've used commercial integrated led fixtures with no problems, some are going on probably 10 years or so now. The plus is that you can usually replace the led or driver if there are problems and most of the bigger manufacturers keep selling the sane fixtures andfeten there's a new generation of component it works in the older fixtures. The downside is that the fixtures cost more and you usually need to get the replacement components from a supplier too and not as readily or cheaply off the shelf.
Personally id still also go with your plan of using a normal fixture with some sort of easily replaceable bulb. You're also not locked into one brand.

 

[cybrdyke]

Here is a wrap fixture that's pre-wired for LED tubes --> TechBrite . TechBrite has a large selection of "LED-ready" fixtures. You can get them wired for single-end tubes, but if you add the suffix "-WOE", they will be wired for double-end tubes. Or, you can get them without pre-wiring at all, and then you can wire them up to match your tube style.
There aren't that many surface wrap fixtures anymore because the style has changed to a much thinner version due to the growth of LED's. The newer lingo is "narrow strip". example . These are integrated fixtures, not tubed.
One of the reasons that you hear about failures, at least from this forum, is because people seem to buy the cheapest garbage they can find on Amazon or other online lighting sites.
Since you're using conduit, a tubed fixture is a good choice.
Good luck,
CD

 

[sparky 1971]

Here is a wrap fixture that's pre-wired for LED tubes --> TechBrite

What is different about the lens on those? It claims to mask the lamps. That's been my one complaint about converting wrap fixtures and it's been the same whether the fixture had the cheap plastic translucent lens or the thicker acrylic, you could see the lamp lines. Nobody has ever hated it enough to want me to change it back to florescent though.

 

[CarlosJr]

Huh. Searching around the web for [techbrite surface wrap] brought me right back to GJ: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-fixture-replaceable-tubes-with-cover.507386/

Thinking of pulling the trigger on this one: https://www.warehouse-lighting.com/...ons-lamps-not-included?variant=28353883013220

I had never heard of TechBrite before. Looks like the company is ~25 years old and has <100 employees. US made fixture with 5 year warranty (which will be instantly voided when I self-install).

Re sparky's earlier comment:

> That type that has the lens tuck inside the fixture are a pita. It won't require removal for lamp changes very often, but when it happens it's harder than it looks without cracking the lens. The type where the lens hooks outside the fixture are much more user friendly.

Can we tell what kind of lens is on these TechBrite units?

 

[cybrdyke]

What is different about the lens on those? It claims to mask the lamps. That's been my one complaint about converting wrap fixtures and it's been the same whether the fixture had the cheap plastic translucent lens or the thicker acrylic, you could see the lamp lines. Nobody has ever hated it enough to want me to change it back to florescent though.

Nothing really. It's just prismatic and looks pretty much just as you described it. You can easily seem the lamps, but I've never heard anyone complain about it. I think this is the same chassis and lens that they sold for years as a fluorescent wrap, but now is just wired to be ready for LED tubes.
The new "wraps" do the same function, but are much narrower in footprint and have integrated LEDs. They work really well and look alot less 1950-ish.
CD

 

[Elevator Scott]

We use Keystone direct wire fixtures and Eiko LED T8 lamps in new freight elevators. We don't use their wrap fixtures but I see they offer them. https://www.keystonetech.com/products/fixtures/indoor-fixtures/type-b-_-tube-ready-fixtures/wrap

Looks like Eiko has a double end powered wrap fixture. https://www.eiko.com/trw4-24de

We use Eiko LED's because they are one of the few that work with the inverter we use for battery emergency lighting.

 

[alfredeneuman]

We use Keystone

(Cue rant mode)
We used some Keystone troffer fixtures back in the late '90s.
Told the supplier not to send more. He only sent Lithonia and Hubbell after that.
Unsafe for the customer and installer
They used to fall apart during the installation, the sharp sheet metal would cut into your hands. The ones with parabolic reflectors were absolutely the worst, and the reflectors would fall out after install if you so much as you looked at them.
The company is based in Pennsylvania, but manufactured in some 3rd World country.
I hope their quality has improved since then. (Exit rant mode)

 

[Elevator Scott]

(Cue rant mode)
We used some Keystone troffer fixtures back in the late '90s.
Told the supplier not to send more. He only sent Lithonia and Hubbell after that.
Unsafe for the customer and installer
They used to fall apart during the installation, the sharp sheet metal would cut into your hands. The ones with parabolic reflectors were absolutely the worst, and the reflectors would fall out after install if you so much as you looked at them.
The company is based in Pennsylvania, but manufactured in some 3rd World country.
I hope their quality has improved since then. (Exit rant mode)

Haha, struck a nerve eh? I've handled the Keystone's and wired them up. I guess I don't have a lot of experience with others to compare them to, but they seem ok. Our local commercial electrical supplier is the one that suggested them to us. They are linear fixtures not wraps so I suppose complexity of fixture is maybe less? Does look like they are made in China. I attached a few pictures of the fixture we use.
I did install 6 Lithonia recessed fixtures in my garage. They were what I would consider garage quality construction in my opinion. Nothing to wow as far as fit and finish and feel like they were from the 80's styling wise. One key factor I didn't think of when buying the Lithonia's is the angle of the keystones that hold the lamps. They were at a 45ish degree angle from horizontal. LED's T8's are typically pretty directional (not 360 degree light like a fluorescent). I found some direct wire LED's that had rotatable ends so I could clock them to point the actual LED's straight down, but those lamps of course cost more. The company that made them also went out of business during COVID (Hyperikon). That was about 6 years ago I installed those. 1 of the 12 lamps is starting to go out so I may be on the hunt for more T8 LED's with rotatable ends soon. If anyone has a favorite one, I'd be all ears.

 

[four.cycle]

I have been replacing fluorescent bulbs at my sister's dance studio for over 30 years.
The last install was one of these: Commercial Electric 1006805989 four-foot LED fixture. $75 + tax out the door
The call it a "wrap" - no bulbs - just a strip with a mess of LEDS along the length of it. super lightweight with no ballast, so install was easy. Looks great. Almost matches the other fixtures on the ceiling. Much brighter than the fluorescent equivalents.

YMMV